Hilliard Arts Council

What Hilliard Arts Council does

Hilliard Arts Council is a 501(c)(3) non-profit arts organization headquartered in Hilliard, Ohio, tracing its origins to the Hilliard Society of the Arts founded in 1975 and formally reconstituted with municipal support in 1982, with 501(c)(3) status achieved in 2002. The organization operates the Hilliard Civic & Cultural Arts Center, a 160-seat black box theatre and arts facility opened in 2016 that houses the Daniel B. Vance Gallery, studio and meeting spaces, and a scene shop. Its programming spans four pillars: performing arts (theatrical productions, summer concert series), music (Hilliard Community Chorus with a 50-year legacy, Hilliard Youth Choir, supported Hilliard Community Band and Greater Columbus Community Orchestra), visual arts (rotating gallery exhibitions and Pop Up Art Studio community events), and education (summer arts camps for grades 1-9, visual arts scholarships of $1,000 to each of three Hilliard high schools). A 2026 theatrical season of seven productions and the annual Short Film Festival round out the programming calendar.

The business model is a hybrid of earned revenue and contributed support. Earned revenue streams include facility rentals (theatre at $50–$150/hour tiered by entity type, studio space, upper lobby), ticket sales through the GetOccasion platform, summer camp fees, and gift certificates. Contributed support includes monthly memberships ($5 student, $15 individual, $35 family, $200/quarter business), corporate sponsorships ($500 to $2,000 tiers), tax-deductible donations processed via Givebutter and Venmo, and grants including Ohio Arts Council funding. The operating model is volunteer-driven, with one paid Executive and Artistic Director (Robin Brenneman, since 2014), a small set of program directors, and a Board of Trustees providing governance. Marketing relies on organic social media across five platforms, email newsletter, the organization website, community partnerships, and in-program visibility.

The customer base is geographically concentrated in Hilliard and Central Ohio and segmented across general community attendees, youth and families, performing arts participants, musicians and singers, visual artists, and local businesses. The organization's competitive position rests on ownership of its venue, deep institutional ties to the City of Hilliard and Hilliard City Schools, and nearly five decades of community presence.

Name

Hilliard Arts Council

Legal name

Hilliard Arts Council

Website

https://hilliardartscouncil.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Hilliard Arts Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating the Hilliard Civic & Cultural Arts Center in Hilliard, Ohio, delivering theatrical productions, choirs, concerts, visual arts exhibitions, youth camps, and facility rentals to the Central Ohio community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts

NAICS

Other Performing Arts Companies (71119), Musical Groups and Artists (71113), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cultural Festivals & Events Organizations (BPAGAHAG), Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC), Performing Arts Camps (Theater, Musical Theater, Dance) (EDAMALAI), Music Camps (Band, Choir, Instrument Intensive) (EDAMALAJ)

Keywords

• Community performing arts
• Live theatre productions
• Arts education programs
• Visual arts exhibitions
• Community arts center

Headquarters

HQ city

Hilliard

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Memberships: Tax-deductible donations and monthly membership programs supporting all arts programming, youth education, community theatre, orchestra, choir, concerts, scholarships, and gallery operations.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Sponsorship packages ranging from $500 to $2000 offering brand recognition through theatrical programs, gallery acknowledgment, stage announcements, show posters, concert stage banners, and digital media exposure.
3. Facility Rentals: Rental income from the Hilliard Civic and Cultural Arts Center including theatre space (160-seat), studio space, and upper lobby for events, classes, rehearsals, and performances.
4. Ticket Sales: Revenue from theatrical productions, concerts, and performances at the 150-seat intimate theatre and summer musical productions at local high schools.
5. Summer Camps: Fees for summer arts education camps including drama camps, art extreme camps, circus camp, Broadway bound intensive, and youth theatre programs.
6. Gift Certificates: Print-on-demand gift certificates sold for ticketed events on the platform.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hilliard Arts Council is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that produces and presents community-based performing and visual arts programming for the Hilliard, Ohio and Central Ohio region. The organization operates the Hilliard Civic & Cultural Arts Center and delivers theatrical productions, choral and instrumental music programs, visual arts exhibitions, youth arts education camps, community concerts, a short film festival, and facility rentals, funded largely through donations, memberships, sponsorships, and program fees.

Product overview

The Hilliard Arts Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of arts programming for the Hilliard, Ohio community. The organization operates from the Hilliard Civic & Cultural Arts Center and provides direct arts programming including theatrical productions (Theatrical Productions), choral groups (Hilliard Community Chorus, Hilliard Youth Choir), a Summer Concert Series, a visual arts gallery (Daniel B. Vance Gallery), and youth education through Summer Arts Camps. Additional programs include a Short Film Festival, Pop Up Art Studio for community events, and facility rentals. The organization also supports other arts organizations through financial contributions to the Hilliard Community Band and Greater Columbus Community Orchestra, and offers a Visual Arts Scholarship program. Community participation is facilitated through membership programs, corporate sponsorships, volunteer opportunities, and facility rentals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Theatrical Productions Annual season of live theatre including Broadway-style musicals, comedies, family shows, and community theatre productions performed at the Hilliard Civic & Cultural Arts Center and local high school venues, with tickets sold to the general public.
• Summer Concert Series Outdoor and indoor concert series featuring local and regional musicians held at the Hilliard Civic & Cultural Arts Center, running summer evenings with rain-or-shine scheduling.
• Hilliard Community Chorus Non-auditioned adult choir performing three full-length concerts per year including an annual performance of Handel's Messiah, celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2025-2026. Participation fee is $30 per concert or $75 for the 3-part season.
• Hilliard Youth Choir
• Daniel B. Vance Gallery
• Pop Up Art Studio
• Summer Arts Camps Youth arts education programs including Drama Camps, Art Extreme Camps, and Circus Camp for grades 1-9, with registration fees and culminating showcase performances.
• Hilliard Short Film Festival Annual film festival celebrating short films and animations from central Ohio filmmakers with Adult (18+), Student/Under-18, and Animation categories.
• Facility Rentals
• Membership Program
• Corporate Sponsorship Program
• Gift Certificates

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• City of HilliardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor municipal partner providing financial support and partnership agreement enabling the formation and operations of the Hilliard Arts Council since 1982. Also provides support through Recreation and Parks department collaboration.
• Hilliard City SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner collaborating on youth programs, student performances, and arts education initiatives including the visual arts scholarship program.
• Hilliard Recreation and ParkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with recreation department for community programming and event coordination.
• Ohio Arts CouncilmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState arts agency providing grant support for programming including public art murals and community arts initiatives.
• Hilliard Chamber of CommercemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated in 2010 to form the Hilliard Community Foundation to develop space for community organizations including the arts center.
• Destination HilliardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTourism and visitor organization collaborating on community events and promoting Hilliard's cultural attractions.
• Hilliard Historical SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered in the Hilliard Community Foundation initiative for arts center development.
• Franklin County Agricultural SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered in the Hilliard Community Foundation initiative for community facility development.
• Norwich TownshipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal township partner supporting community arts initiatives and programming.
• Columbus Metropolitan Library - Hilliard BranchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for Pop Up Art Studio events and arts programming outreach.
• Hilliard Public Arts CommissionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on public art program featuring murals on the arts center building and citywide public art installations.
• Blue Oak LandscapeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting arts programming in exchange for brand visibility.
• Baker InsuranceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting arts programming.
• The Schumacher Group (Fidelity Investments)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor providing financial support for arts programs.
• Heartland BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting community arts initiatives.
• NationwideminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor providing support for arts programming.
• BattelleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting community arts and cultural programming.
• Hilliard RotaryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerService organization sponsor supporting community arts programming.
• Hilliard Moose LodgeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity organization sponsor supporting local arts initiatives.
• Coffee ConnectionsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal business sponsor supporting community arts programs.
• Greater Columbus Community OrchestraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity orchestra receives financial assistance from Hilliard Arts Council to fulfill its mission of orchestral music appreciation in Central Ohio.
• Hilliard Community BandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConcert band of over 50 volunteer musicians receives financial support from Hilliard Arts Council to maintain the musical tradition in the community.
• Hilliard Presbyterian ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner hosting Hilliard Community Chorus rehearsals weekly.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Columbus Symphony Orchestra: Major regional professional symphony based in Columbus. Comparable in classical/music programming and as a competitor for the same Central Ohio donor base, but at significantly larger professional scale than HAC's supported community orchestra.
• Wexner Center for the Arts: Ohio State University-affiliated contemporary arts center presenting performing and visual arts. Comparable as a Central Ohio presenting/visual arts institution and donor competitor, but at much larger institutional scale and broader geographic draw.

Others

• Ohio Arts Council: State arts funding agency that is itself a direct partner/funder of HAC. Relevant as the ecosystem enabler and grant counterparty rather than a competitor; shares the arts-and-culture advocacy mission.

Direct peers

• Actors' Theatre of Columbus: Central Ohio theatre nonprofit known for free Shakespeare productions and educational programming. Comparable as a community-focused performing arts nonprofit with education/outreach overlap.
• ProMusica Chamber Orchestra: Columbus-based chamber orchestra offering mainstage concerts and education/outreach. Directly comparable to HAC's Hilliard Community Band and Greater Columbus Community Orchestra supported programs in format, mission, and community music engagement.
• McCoy Center for the Arts: New Albany, Ohio community arts center offering theatre, music, visual arts, and education programs. Highly comparable venue-based multi-discipline community arts nonprofit model in the greater Columbus region.
• CATCO (Columbus Association for the Performing Arts): Central Ohio's community professional theatre company producing a mainstage season. Directly comparable as a performing arts nonprofit serving the same Columbus metro donor and audience pool as HAC, but with larger professional production scale.
• Shadowbox Live: Columbus-based performing arts company producing original sketch comedy, music, and theatre year-round in its own venue. Comparable as a venue-owning performing arts nonprofit operating in the same regional market.
• Columbus Children's Theatre: Central Ohio youth and family theatre company producing mainstage productions and education programs. Directly comparable in mission, audience segment (youth and families), and education/summer-camp programming overlap with HAC.
• Short North Stage: Columbus professional theatre company operating the historic Garden Theatre. Directly comparable in mission (community-accessible professional theatre), venue ownership model, and Central Ohio donor competition with HAC.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hilliardarts
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/HACHilliard
• Facebookfacebook.com/HilliardArtsCouncil
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hilliardarts
• Instagraminstagram.com/hilliardartscouncil

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hilliard Arts Council